Redwood Walnut Long Neck Concert Ukulele

Here’s a Redwood Walnut Long Neck Concert Ukulele delivered the week before last.   An unusual combination of woods, by request, that worked better than I expected.

The most notable component of this instrument is a salvage “sinker” redwood sound board  from a new supply just received from my Myrtle Wood supplier in southern Oregon.  This is actually the first time I have used this wood.  I have salvage old growth redwood in my supply but it is not “sinker”.  Usually I do not mind the visual distresses found in salvaged wood (spalt, bug holes, discoloration–bring’em) but this wood does show a mottling that I did not favor.  After sanding and retreating the wood a couple of times, I realized that the appearance was not going to change.  I inspected a duplicate set and found the appearance, although less noticeable unfinished, to be the same.   I was appreciative that the client was accepting.  Wood!

The back and sides are Oregon Bastogne Walnut.  If  you follow my site, you know that I have favored this wood in the past for small body instruments. I have no problem at all using alternative woods for sound boards.  This is just one example.  I like this set of walnut for it’s variety of colors, curl, and medium density.

The instrument has a “17” inch tenor scale.  Fortunately this did not put the bridge too far out of the  sweet spot on the sound board even at 14 frets to the body.  I was reluctant at first but, once again, it worked better than expected and this little instrument puts out a sound that is equal to many tenor ukulele.

Additions to the build were Honduran Mahogany neck, India Rosewood binding with black/white fiber purfling,  Australian Mallee Burl accents, radiused finger board and bridge of Macassar Ebony and Mi-Si undersaddle pick-up.

A redwood walnut long neck concert ukulele with great sound.  Wood!